Dog training question part 2….?

In this question:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Anc5SLvAGnVtcApXLtChKrvAFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20080816071334AAxSr7x

most agreed that you do not treat your dog like a human, and that you train the dog according to what is best for the dog, not what the dog necessarily wants.

So, given that, what are your opinions on:

1. Flat collars?
2. Martingale collars?
3. Choke chains?
4. Prong collars?
5. Invisible fences?
6. “Spray” type collars?
7. Electric, shock or E-collars?

Note that each of the above, when improperly used, is cruel, inhumane and can be dangerous.

For bonus points:

Do you chooses which tools you use to train your dog by:
1. How well it works for your dog and what you are trying to train?
2. How “humane” the tool is perceived to be?
sorry – bad grammar this morning – “Do you choose…”
James – would you like to expand on that a bit?

Now, these are just my opinions. What works for me is not “law”, it’s just a matter of my experiences and what has worked for me:

1. Necessary for ID tags and a place to hook a lead. Also serves as a “handle” when controling the dog (after all, you can’t grab a hand like you can on a child).

2. Martingale’s are okay. I’ve not been pleased with them, mostly due to the small detail of the ones I’ve encountered slip over the head, rather than having a buckle. I can never get them to fit appropriately as my hands are arthritic and adjusting collars is difficult and not something I want to do each and every time I put a collar on a dog! That said, this is what little Jazz wears as she’s the only dog I’ve had where she “undresses” at night and a slip off is nice. The martingale feature is nice as it prevents the collar from slipping off when she’s on lead. She is the first dog where I can say, “a martingale works for her”!

3. I don’t like choke chain collars. Too large for the job after getting over the head as they ride too low on the neck. The “chain” material is disturbing for me. I much prefer the nylon snap chokes. They fit properly, do not go over the head and can be attached to the “dead” non-working ring making them safe when not in training use.

4. I like prong collars when a nylon snap choke will not do the job. A heavy puller, for example. I agree that these need to be used correctly and with knowledge and care.

5. I LOVED my invisible fence for the purpose of my dogs staying on my property *no matter what* when outside. It does not take the place of a physical fence for the simple reason that neighbor animals can come in freely. So, I don’t recommend them for “outside” dogs.

6. No experience. No opinion.

7. For distance work on a dog that “knows” it has the option of “not listening”… these fit the bill. I agree that they must be used with care, knowledge and fairness. These are not meant to torture the animal.

Bonus:

1. Absolutely. The **only** dog I’ve ever resorted to using an e-collar on was a runner who knew he could out distance me and knew that at a distance he had the option of turning a deaf ear. A few months with an e-collar changed his attitude and we’ve not used it since.

2. To me “humane” means how it’s used, not what the perception is. A flat collar in the wrong hands can become a torture device, in my opinion.

Dog Collars – Electronic vs Pager

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